Chartered and Cadence Partner to Reduce Time-to-Market with Process Design Kit Offering

Companies Launch PDK Offering with Worldwide Seminar Series

SAN JOSE, Calif. & MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 25, 2002--Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (NYSE:CDN - news) and Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing (Nasdaq:CHRT - news; SGX-ST: CHARTERED) are working together to help the mixed-signal market reduce cycle times on designs with new Chartered foundry process design kits (PDKs). The PDKs will integrate Chartered's manufacturing processes for multiple nodes -- from 0.35 micron extending to 0.10 micron -- with the Cadence® front-to-back design and verification flow for analog, RF and mixed-signal ICs. The result is a design-through-manufacture path that helps companies meet aggressive product schedules for advanced mixed-signal SoCs.

To introduce the PDKs to the market, Chartered, one of the world's top three foundries, and Cadence, the world's leading supplier of electronic design products and services, will co-host a worldwide seminar series, Acceleration to Technology Access, at the following locations and dates: San Jose, May 7; Irvine, Calif., May 9; Boston, May 14; and Austin, May 16. Locations and dates for international seminars will be announced at a later time. Additional information and online registration is currently available at http://www.charteredsemi.com/PDK.htm.

"Today's designers face a constant challenge to meet shrinking time-to-market windows. Chartered's PDK program gives them a head start with their designs, and that could make all the difference," said Michael Buehler-Garcia, vice president of worldwide marketing and business development at Chartered. "By combining Chartered's mixed-signal processes and world-class models with the industry-leading, mixed-signal design solution from Cadence, we help our customers to meet the reduced cycle times they need."

The PDKs will enable Chartered and Cadence customers to immediately begin designing chips rather than first developing their own required process design kits. The PDKs provide a symbol library and technology file for the design automation flow and DRC-correct parameterized cells to automate device generation. They are validated with the Cadence Spectre® models in the Cadence RF/analog mixed-signal design solution, which includes AMS Designer, Composer, Analog Design Environment, Spectre/Spectre-RF, Virtuoso® Layout Editor and XL, Custom Placer, Custom Router, and the Assura(TM)/Diva® physical verification suites.

"Entering into a multi-node, multi-year agreement with Chartered affirms the Cadence commitment to the foundry market," said Lavi Lev, executive vice president and general manager, IC Solutions Business at Cadence. "Partnering long-term with a mixed-signal industry leader ensures that our mutual customers get design solutions that help them achieve first-pass success even as complexity increases with each newer process node."

About Chartered

Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, one of the world's top three silicon foundries, is forging a customized approach to outsourced semiconductor manufacturing by building lasting and collaborative partnerships with its customers. The Company provides flexible and cost-effective manufacturing solutions for customers, enabling the convergence of communications, computing and consumer applications. In Singapore, Chartered operates five fabrication facilities and has a sixth fab in the process of being developed as a 300mm facility.

A company with both global presence and perspective, Chartered is traded on both the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq:CHRT - news) and on the Singapore Exchange (SGX-ST: CHARTERED). Chartered's 4,000 employees are based at 12 locations around the world. Information about Chartered can be found at www.charteredsemi.com.

About Cadence

Cadence is the largest supplier of electronic design technologies, methodology services, and design services. Cadence solutions are used to accelerate and manage the design of semiconductors, computer systems, networking and telecommunications equipment, consumer electronics, and a variety of other electronics-based products. With approximately 5,600 employees and 2001 revenues of approximately $1.4 billion, Cadence has sales offices, design centers, and research facilities around the world. The company is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CDN. More information about the company, its products and services is available at www.cadence.com.

Note to Editors: Cadence, the Cadence logo, Virtuoso, Spectre, and Diva are registered trademarks and Assura is a trademark of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

     Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
     Judy Erkanat, 408/894-2302
     jerkanat@cadence.com
       or
     Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing
     Tiffany Sparks, 408/941-1185
     tiffanys@charteredsemi.com